Method and apparatus for producing a stablized antimicrobial non-toxic electrolyzed saline solution exhibiting potential as a therapeutic

ABSTRACT

An improved method and apparatus for producing a stable, non-toxic, antimicrobial electrolyzed saline solution with a broad range of anti-infective and therapeutic applications. The resulting electrolyzed saline solution exhibits a marked lack of toxicity upon intravenous, aspired, oral or topical application in mammals for therapeutic applications providing a broad platform, including topical disinfection, antimicrobial application, wound treatment, oxidative stress reduction and enhancement of immune function to better detect malfunctioning cells.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part patent application of the patent application entitled “Method and Apparatus for Producing a Stabilized Antimicrobial Non-toxic Electrolyzed Saline Solution Exhibiting as a Therapeutic” filed Oct. 30, 2008, now abandoned Ser. No. 12/290,398 of the provisional patent application entitled “Method and Apparatus for Producing an Electrolyzed Saline Solution Exhibiting Anti-infective Potential as a Therapeutic” filed Oct. 31, 2007 as Ser. No. 61/001,010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field

This invention pertains to an electrolytic method and apparatus for producing electrolyzed saline redox-balanced solutions. More particularly, it pertains to a method and apparatus used to produce a stable, non-toxic, antimicrobial electrolyzed saline redox-balanced solution from pure saline or hypertonic saline (NaCl and H₂O), both referred to hereafter as saline solution, exhibiting anti-infective and immune-enhancing potential as a therapeutic employing a balanced mixture of chemically reduced and oxidized species including Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), Hypochlorites (OCl⁻,NaClO), dissolved Oxygen (O₂), Chlorine (Cl₂) and Hydrogen (H₂) gases, Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂0₂), Hydrogen ions (H⁺), Hypochloride (ClO) and corresponding amounts of Superoxides (*O₂ ⁻,HO₂), Ozone (O₃), Activated Hydrogen ions (H⁻), Chloride ions (Cl⁻), Hydroxides (NaOH,OH⁻), Singlet Oxygen (*O₂) and other forms of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) (*OCl,*HO⁻).

2. State of the Art

Electrolysis of saline solutions has long been used to produce antimicrobial solutions that are compatible with mammalian biology. Some examples include methods to produce chlorinated water, bleach and hydrogen peroxide. Typically, the methods and apparatus used to electrolyze these solutions employ ion-selective barriers between the electrodes in order to efficiently isolate the target molecules and eliminate unwanted byproducts. A fundamentally different method and apparatus for producing a non-toxic antimicrobial electrolyzed saline solution is disclosed in eight United States patents, and two Japanese patents and a Mexican patent based on these U.S. patents, all held by the applicant, covering various other applications for intravenous injected electrolyzed saline solution, the machinery that manufactures it, and the method by which it is manufactured. These U.S. Patents are as follows:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,383, Morrow, dated Aug. 2, 1994 entitled “Electrically Hydrolyzed Salines as In Vivo Microbicides for Treatment of Cardiomyopathy and Multiple Sclerosis.” This patent covers a method of treating antigen related infections related to cardiomyopathy and multiple sclerosis in humans and other warm blooded animals. It does not cover the substance itself, but covers a particular use of the substance. This method of treatment includes the use of an electrolyzed saline solution in conjunction with one or more modulating agents such as ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), with or without concurrent colchicine, to mimic or enhance the body's naturally occurring immune response to bacterial, viral or fungal infection.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,932, dated Apr. 16, 1996 entitled “Apparatus for Electrolyzing Fluids.” This patent covers equipment that exposes a liquid solution to an electrical current, creating an electrolyzed solution. This equipment may be used to produce an electrolyzed saline solution, capable of killing bacterial, viral and fungal agents, for use in medical applications such as the treatment of antigen related infections in humans and other warm blooded animals. This patent covers the equipment used to produce the electrolyzed saline solution, not the substance itself.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,816, Robinson, dated Oct. 1, 1996 entitled “Method for Electrolyzing Fluids.” This patent covers a method for electrolyzing fluids, by using specialized equipment to expose liquid solutions to an electrical current. Saline, for example, may be treated by this process to yield an electrolyzed saline solution, capable of killing bacterial, viral and fungal agents, for the treatment of antigen related infection in humans and other warm blooded animals. This patent covers the method by which the electrolyzed saline solution is produced, not the substance itself.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,848, Morrow, dated Apr. 22, 1997 entitled “Electrically Hydrolyzed Saline Solutions As Microbicides For In Vitro Treatment Of Contaminated Fluids Containing Blood.” This patent covers a method of treating whole blood and other blood products with an electrolyzed saline solution to reduce infection with bacterial, viral and fungal agents. This patent covers a particular use of the electrolyzed saline solution, not substance itself.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,537, Morrow, dated Oct. 7, 1997 entitled “An Electrolyzed Saline Solution Containing Concentrated Amounts Of Ozone And Chlorine Species.” This patent covers a specific electrolyzed saline solution containing a regulated amount of microbicidal agents including ozone and active chlorine species. This solution is intended for use in the treatment of infections in the body of humans and other warm blooded animals, or in blood or blood products. This patent covers the electrolyzed saline solution.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,008, Morrow, dated Mar. 24, 1998 entitled “Electrically Hydrolyzed Salines as Microbicides.” This patent covers a method of using a specific electrolyzed saline solution containing a regulated amount of microbicidal agents including ozone and active chlorine species for the treatment of microbial infections, including HIV infection. The method includes intravenous administration of the solution along with one or more modulating agents such ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), with or without concurrent colchicine. This patent covers a method for using the electrolyzed saline solution, not the substance itself.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,686, Welch et al, dated Dec. 28, 1999 entitled “System for Electrolyzing Fluids for Use as Antimicrobial Agents.” This patent covers a system for electrolyzing fluids, such as a saline solution, for use in sterilizing dental and medical instruments and other health care equipment. The patent covers the necessary equipment for generating and circulating the electrolyzed saline solution around the instruments to be sterilized, and includes specific claims for equipment designed for use with dental drill hand pieces and flexible tubing. This patent covers a process by which the electrolyzed saline solution may be made for a particular use, not the substance itself.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,285, Welch et al, dated Sep. 12, 2000 entitled “System for Carrying Out Sterilization of Equipment.” This patent covers a system for cleaning and sterilizing medical and dental instruments to prevent the spread of infection from one patient to another. The covered system bathes the instrument in an electrolyzed saline solution and causes the solution to flow into and sterilize any openings in the equipment. It includes specific claims for systems designed specifically for the sterilization of dental drills and flexible tubing. This patent covers a particular use of the electrolyzed saline solution, not the substance itself.

Two Japanese and one Mexican patents provide corresponding coverage in those countries for several of the above U.S. patents. Applicants also have other pending applications with the US Patent and Trademark Office for patents on various treatment uses of the electrolyzed saline solution.

The above embodiments of these prior patents typically have produced measurably different variations of electrolyzed saline solution. Each variation, however, exhibited some antimicrobial action and many of these devices produced solutions with measurable amounts of the components (chlorine, pH, ozone, etc.) within the range of the disclosed regulated amounts. The resulting electrolyzed saline compositions, however, have not historically been satisfactorily consistent or controllable, specifically regarding the concentrations of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). In addition, these prior inventions could produce toxic chemicals (chlorates) in the process of electrolyzing the saline solution. Consequently, there is a need for an improved manufacturing method and apparatus, such as that described below, to consistently produce solutions suitable for therapeutic applications in humans and warm-blooded animals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The improved method and apparatus described below provides an improved electrolyzing fluid containing regulated amounts of stable reactive oxygen species (ROS) particularly suited for stable, non-toxic antimicrobial applications and to aid the immune system in identifying and destroying malfunctioning cells. The invention comprises a method for making an electrolyzed saline solution for use as an in vivo treatment of a human or warm-blooded animal. Specifically, it comprises:

a. placing a saline solution having a saline concentration of at least about 0.15% within a container,

b. activating a fluid circulation device to maintain a flow of the saline solution between the electrode surfaces,

c. adjusting the temperature of the circulating saline at a preferred level to prevent production of chlorates and regulate the relative concentrations of resulting components,

d. placing in the saline solution an anode and a cathode associated with a power source, and

e. applying an effective voltage potential less than about thirty volts between the cathode and the anode sufficient to produce a balanced mixture of chemical redox balanced species including Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), Hypochlorites (OCl⁻,NaClO), dissolved Oxygen (O₂), Chlorine (Cl₂) and Hydrogen (H₂) gases, Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂0₂), Hydrogen ions (H⁺), Hypochloride (ClO) and corresponding amounts of Superoxides (*O₂ ⁻, HO₂), Ozone (O₃), Activated Hydrogen ions (H⁻), Chloride ions (Cl⁻), Hydroxides (NaOH, OH⁻), Singlet Oxygen (*O₂) and other forms of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) (*OCl, *HO⁻) utilizing electron and proton donation, ion and dissolved-gas transport to produce a specific redox balanced set of molecules and ions. This redox-balanced set of molecules and ions in combination are a potent anti-infective and help the immune system identify and destroy malfunctioning cells.

This electrolyzed saline solution is then administered to a human or warm-blooded animal for therapeutic use. Preferably, the electrolyzed saline solution is administered by injection, oral or anal ingestion, applied topically, used as a bath, applied in a wound dressing, or inhaled in atomized form.

The container for producing the electrolyzed saline solutions is fabricated from a biologically compatible material. In addition, the anode is made of a base metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, niobium, titanium or any metal compatible with platinum bonding with an outer layer of platinum bonded to the base metal. The shape of the anode has a cylindrical, or flat (planar) shaped structure. The anode is preferably permeable to fluid flow.

Usually the cathode is positioned coaxially or in parallel in relation to the anode. This cathode is made of a base metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, niobium, titanium or any metal compatible with platinum bonding with an outer layer of platinum bonded to the base metal and has a cylindrical, or flat (planar) shaped structure similar to that of the anode and is also preferably permeable to fluid flow.

The spacing between the surfaces of the cathode and the anode is typically not greater than about one inch. This invention has means to circulate and regulate the temperature of fluids during production, has appropriate electrode design and has methods that effectively stabilize the composition of the resulting solution.

The temperature, fluid flow and effective voltage are chosen as to eliminate production of chlorates and to create the desired mixture of components. These parameters are determined by experimentation. The resulting solution is consistently stable and suitable for in vivo therapeutic applications. The stable ROS concentration, for example, has a variation of less than 5% from batch to batch and from device to device when the same set of parameters are employed by each.

The effective voltage may be applied by direct current, alternating current, or various combinations of alternating current and direct current power sources, resulting in a combined effective voltage ranging anywhere between 0 and 30 volts. The effective voltage is chosen to eliminate the production of chlorates and to create the desired mixture of components containing stable ROS. For example, a typical temperature range of the saline solution is from 30 deg. F. to 100 deg. F. In the lower temperature range, less O₂ is absorbed by the fluid and the fluid has smaller electrical conductivity, therefore higher effective voltages can be utilized to maintain adequate electrical current required to provide regulated amounts of stable ROS without significantly increasing the probability of creating chlorates and while maintaining a pH of 7.2 to 7.5.

The effective voltage may be adjusted, as desired, to regulate the concentration of the components and the pH of the resulting solution over a large variety of temperatures and fluid flows. Wherein it is difficult to theoretically determine the concentrations of all the various resulting chemical components when given any specific set of parameters, the optimal effective voltage, fluid temperature and flow are determined by experimentation. This methodology allows for the intentional regulation of concentrations of the specific chemical components in these stable ROS enriched solutions, allowing for the optimization of solutions intended for specific purposes.

The method and apparatus thus provides a stable, ROS enriched, antimicrobial, non-toxic electrolyzed saline solutions with a specific redox-balanced set of molecules and ions in solution, hereinafter referred to as “electrolyzed saline solution” (ESS) that has the ability to attack infective microbes and enhances the ability of the immune system to recognize and destroy damaged or malfunctioning cells. An example of a preferred embodiment of the ESS solution is that produced by Reoxcyn Discoveries Group, Inc. of Sandy, Utah under the tradename “Reoxcyn™”.

ESS solutions are balanced to normal and hypertonic saline and have been shown through extensive, repeatable research by accredited laboratories to be stable, non-toxic and exhibit remarkable antimicrobial, antiviral and therapeutic characteristics. Besides the therapeutic applications, the nature of these solutions also makes them suitable for applications in food safety, animal health, agriculture and sterilization. The ESS solutions exhibit a marked lack of toxicity upon intravenous, aspired, oral or topical application in mammals.

ESS solutions provide a broad platform for anti-infective and therapeutic applications covering several potential areas of use, including topical disinfection, antimicrobial application, wound treatment, oxidative stress reduction and enhancement of immune function. ESS solutions, being that they contain regulated amounts of stable reactive oxygen species (ROS), are particularly suited for enhancing the ability of the immune system to recognize and destroy damaged or malfunctioning cells. Such solutions can also be administered in a number of different ways appropriate for the desired therapeutic application.

Furthermore, all of the molecular components found in these solutions are involved in a growing field of scientific investigation categorized as redox messaging and regulation of genes. Such molecular components, being a balanced set of reduced species (RS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), are the same molecules and ions that mirror those found in biological systems and are intimately involved in the ability of the immune system to recognize, detect, eliminate and heal infected, damaged or mutated tissues in mammals.

The measurement of concentrations of ROS inside the solutions has been done by means of a fluoro spectrometer, Nanodrop 3300, and three varieties of fluorescent dyes, R-Phycoerytherin (R-PE), Hydroxyphenyl fluorescein (HPF) and Aminophenyl fluorescein (APF), that are commonly used to determine relative ROS concentrations inside active biological systems and cells. The molecules in these dyes change shape, and therefore fluoresce only when exposed to molecular components in ROS. The resulting change in fluorescence can then be detected by the fluoro spectrometer and can be related to the concentration of ROS present. ROS concentrations in ESS solutions are verified and detected by either APF or R-PE fluorescent dyes, both of which produce entirely consistent measurements of relative concentrations of ROS in various concentrations and dilutions of ESS solutions. ROS measurements in ESS solutions have been linked using R-PE fluorescent dye, to the reaction of this dye to regulated concentrations of 2/2′-Axobis(2-methylpropionamide)dihidrochloride, a molecule that produces known amounts of ROS. This is not an absolute measurement, but it relates ROS in ESS to amounts of a known producer of ROS.

These fluorescent dyes are often used in combination with a fluorescence microscope to create high-resolution images of the build-up of ROS (oxidative stress) inside individual living cells. These dyes have been shown to specifically be sensitive to concentrations of ROS regardless of complex surrounding chemical environments.

Although APF and R-PE dyes are capable of measuring relative ROS concentrations in ESS solutions, no known absolute standard concentration for stabilized ROS in pure saline solutions exists. Furthermore, discrepancies in the decay time of these fluorescent dyes make measuring standardized amounts of ROS in other solutions incompatible with measuring those found in ESS. This may be due, in part, to the molecular complexes in ESS solutions that keep the ROS concentration stable, effectively shielding the free radicals from readily reacting with the dyes. The standard for ROS concentration in ESS solutions is therefore measured relative to the ROS concentration in a standardized solution that has been used in all of the antimicrobial and toxicity studies to date, both published and unpublished. Methods to measure absolute ROS concentrations in ESS solutions are actively being pursued.

The regulated amounts of ROS, thus measured, inside a variety of the ESS solutions produced by various embodiments of this invention have been shown to be stable, consistent and predictable, sufficient for therapeutic applications.

The method and apparatus thus produce a stable, non-toxic, antimicrobial electrolyzed saline solution with a broad range of anti-infective and therapeutic applications. The resulting electrolyzed saline solution is balanced to normal and hypertonic saline and has been shown to exhibit remarkable antimicrobial, antiviral and therapeutic characteristics. The nature of this electrolyzed saline solution makes it suitable for applications in food safety, animal health, agriculture and sterilization. These electrolyzed saline solutions also exhibit a marked lack of toxicity upon intravenous, aspired, oral or topical application in mammals. The therapeutic applications represent a broad platform, possibly covering a variety of potential areas of use, including topical disinfection, antimicrobial application, wound treatment, oxidative stress reduction and enhancement of immune function to better detect malfunctioning cells.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of one preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention. It has a container 101, which holds a saline solution having a saline concentration of at least about 0.15% to 1.0% by weight. The container may be fitted with a lid 100. The container 101 has a cylindrical anode 101 a and a surrounding concentric cylindrical cathode 101 b positioned on its bottom 105. The anode 101 a and cathode 101 b are operably associated with a power supply 107. The power supply 107 provides a source of electrical current with an effective voltage of under 30 volts via wires 106 affixed to the anode 101 a and a cathode 101 b.

The anode 101 a is a mesh cylindrical ring comprised of titanium with an outer layer of platinum bonded to the titanium base. The cathode 101 b is a cylindrical mesh ring comprised of titanium with an outer layer of platinum bonded to the titanium base that is positioned coaxially about the anode 101 a. The spacing between the cathode 101 b and the anode 101 a, at the preferred flow rate below, is typically not greater than about one inch. Moreover, the effective voltage potential between the cathode 101 b and the anode 101 a is not greater than a preferred amount, typically under 30 volts.

A temperature regulation device, such as a combination heating/cooling device, is positioned along the sides 104 inside the container 101 to exchange heat with the saline solution in order to maintain the saline solution at a desired temperature between 30 deg. F. to 100 deg. F.

A circulation tube 102 is mounted on the exterior of the container 101 with openings connecting and in communication with the top and bottom interior of the container 101. The circulation tube 102 is associated with a fluid pump 103 to provide for fluid circulation and flow inside the container 101. This allows saline solution in the container 101 to flow through the anode 101 a and cathode 101 b assembly at a preferred flow rate, typically between 0.1 to 50 cc/cm²/sec.

FIG. 1 also shows a second circulation tube 102 and fluid pump 103 similarly structured and mounted on the exterior of the opposite side of the container 101 that performs a similar fluid circulation function. This two tube 102 circulation structure and flow pattern insures complete mixing and electrolysis of the saline solution to produce ROS concentrations calculated to be between 0.05 and 50 ppm.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

Although this reference has made reference to the illustrated embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claims themselves recite those features deemed essential to the invention. 

1. A method for producing a stable, non-toxic, antimicrobial electrolyzed saline solution comprising: preparing a saline solution having a saline concentration within a range from approximately 0.15% to approximately 1.0% by weight; inserting within the saline solution an inert anode and a spaced apart corresponding inert cathode associated with a power source; regulating the temperature of the saline solution to maintain a solution temperature sufficient to prevent production of chlorates and regulate relative concentrations of resulting components during electrolysis; circulating the saline solution to maintain a flow of the saline solution between the anode and cathode; applying an effective voltage potential selected from within a voltage range of zero volts to approximately thirty volts between the cathode and the anode sufficient to produce a mixture of chemically reduced and oxidized molecules, the mixture including hypochlorous acid, hypochlorites, dissolved oxygen chlorine, hydrogen gases, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen, hypochloride and corresponding amounts of superoxides, ozone, activated hydrogen, chloride ions, hydroxides, singlet oxygen, and other forms of reactive oxygen species, wherein the total combination of hypochlorous acid, hypochlorites, and dissolved oxygen chlorine is at a concentration between 1 to 200 ppm, wherein the total combination of hydrogen gases, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen, hypochloride, superoxides, and ozone is at a concentration from 1 to 50 ppm, wherein total reactive oxygen species in the balanced mixture is between 0.05 to 50 ppm; and utilizing one or more techniques to achieve desired electrolysis efficiencies and stable specie compositions containing stable reactive oxygen species while preventing production of chlorates, the one or more techniques including one or more of the following: electron and proton donation; ion and dissolved-gas transport; adjusting a temperature of the saline solution; adjusting anode and cathode spacing; adjusting a saline solution circulation rate; and optimization of the effective voltage; mirroring the mixture of chemically reduced and oxidized species in the electrolyzed saline solution to the reduced species and reactive oxygen species found in a known biological system by measuring concentrations of reactive oxygen species in the electrolyzed saline solution using a fluoro spectrometer and at least one fluorescent dye selected from R-phycoerytherin, hydroxyphenyl fluorescein, and aminophenyl fluorescein; and producing the stable, non-toxic, antimicrobial electrolyzed saline solution.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of regulating the temperature of the saline solution further comprises a step for maintaining a desired temperature of the saline solution between 30° F. and 100° F.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the effective voltage potential is less than thirty volts.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step for circulating the saline solution.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the inert cathode is positioned coaxially in relation to a position of the inert anode.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the inert cathode comprises a base metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, niobium, and titanium.
 7. The method of claim 5, further comprising a step for providing a spacing between a surface of the inert cathode and a surface of the inert anode, wherein the spacing less than or equal to one inch.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step for maintaining a pH of the saline solution between approximately 7.2 and approximately 7.5.
 9. A method for producing an electrolyzed saline solution comprising: electrolyzing a saline solution having a salt concentration between about 0.15% and about 1.0% by weight using a voltage between about 0 V and about 30 V across an inert anode and a spaced apart inert cathode thereby generating a target mixture of chemically reduced and oxidized molecules within the saline solution; maintaining a solution temperature sufficient to prevent production of chlorates; mirroring the target mixture of chemically reduced and oxidized species in the electrolyzed saline solution to the reduced species and reactive oxygen species found in a known biological system by measuring concentrations of reactive oxygen species in the electrolyzed saline solution using a fluorospectrometer and at least one fluorescent dye selected from R-phycoerytherin, hydroxyphenyl fluorescein, and aminophenyl fluorescein; and producing the electrolyzed saline solution.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the mixture includes hypochlorous acid, hypochlorites, dissolved oxygen chlorine, hydrogen gases, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen, hypochloride and corresponding amounts of superoxides, ozone, activated hydrogen, chloride ions, hydroxides, singlet oxygen, and other forms of reactive oxygen species.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the total combination of hypochlorous acid, hypochlorites, and dissolved oxygen chlorine is at a concentration between 1 to 200 ppm, wherein the total combination of hydrogen gases, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen, hypochloride, superoxides, and ozone is at a concentration from 1 to 50 ppm.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein total reactive oxygen species in the mixture is between 0.05 to 50 ppm.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the electrolyzed saline solution is stable.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the electrolyzed saline solution is non-toxic.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the electrolyzed saline solution is antimicrobial. 